(Newser)
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Florida's high-profile Senate race is set in November: Marco Rubio will defend his seat against challenger Patrick Murphy, a Democratic congressman. Rubio beat millionaire developer Carlos Beruff on Tuesday, the only major GOP candidate to stay in the race after Rubio decided to run for re-election two days before the deadline to make the ballot, reports AP. He had said for months he wouldn't run again no matter what happened in the presidential race. Murphy, meanwhile, defeated fiery liberal Rep. Alan Grayson, aided by the backing of President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

Murphy was first elected to the House in 2012, defeating incumbent tea party conservative Allen West. While Grayson has more consistently voted for Democratic priorities and Obama's agenda, many party leaders thought he was unelectable because of his brash demeanor. Murphy has criticized Rubio as caring more about his political ambitions then his constituents, while Republicans have criticized Murphy for embellishing his resume and lack of experience. If not for this year's presidential race, these Florida races would have commanded far more national attention. Click for more on that.